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[UX Issue - Needs Path To Reproduction] Tilt To Slew Not Working On Moto G5 Plus (Unresolved - Needs Further Testing)

The "tilt to slew" function does not work on Moto G5plus. The phone does not have compass but this feature needs only accelerometers, presumably. The button shows up and I am able to activate it but nothing happens when I tilt the phone. I know how to setup and use the function - it works nicely on my Nexus 7 tablet. The accelerometer in the phone works in other apps as well.

I think this may be a bug in handling the no-compass case since the app properly detects and shows no-compass condition in the settings.
This is kind of a killer for me - I upgraded partially for this feature for telescope control with my phone.

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29 comments

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    Bill Tschumy

    This is surprising.  Are you sure the accelerometers are working properly?  I have a Nexus 7 tablet where the accelerometers stop working after a while.  I have to reboot it to get them working again.

    A good test of your accelerometers is whether autorotation works (in any app) as you rotate the device from portrait to landscape (and vice versa).  On my Nexus 7, this doesn't work until a reboot.

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    Paweł T. Jochym

    Unfortunately that is not it. The auto-rotation works even in skysafari. Just tilt-to-slew does not react to tilting. Even if i start it in non-horizontal orientation it does not complain as it does on Nexus 7.

    Is it possible to submit oficial bug report and get to the developers? The G5 is probably fairly common handset so this may affect a number of users.

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    Bill Tschumy

    I am the developer ;-)

    Your's is the first report I've had of anything like this.  I really don't know how to debug this without having your device.  I may have to wait to see if others report it and see if there is a pattern.

    This probably will not show anything, but maybe if you send me an Android log file, that will contain some nugget of information.  Use the "Help > Email Log File" feature and send it to "bill@simcur.com".   Include a message saying this is regarding the "Tilt to Slew" issue.

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    John E.

    FYI: I also have a Moto G5plus. And I just tested it. After checking "tilt to use compass". It worked fine on my phone.

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    Bill Tschumy

    John,

    Thanks for the additional info.  Good to know that all G5 Plus devices are not affected.  What Android version are you on?

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    John E.

    Bill, I'm using Android 7 and the original ss6+. Not the most recent ss6 update.

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    John E.

    Bill, I misunderstood and tested "till to use compass" in "appearances and behavior".
    Which works fine. But after re-reading the post, what I believe Pawel was referring to is "tilt device to slew" in "scope setup" which I can't test since I do not control my scope with SS. My apologies for the confusion.

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    Bill Tschumy

    I see.  

    You can still test tilt to slew (and I'd appreciate it if you did).  Just use the Demo Scope (which is what you get by default).  Turn on Tilt-to-Slew and then connect to the demo scope.  Tap the button in the right edge of the chart to enable tilt to slew.  See if the scope location moves around as you tilt the device (need to tilt at lease 20º from flat).

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    John E.

    I assume you mean the button to the right edge of the chart which is the "unlock" button. When I followed the steps I could not get it to work even after several attempts. Including going out of the app and coming back in. Maybe the motos do have something quirky about them that doesn't like this feature?

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    Bill Tschumy

    Not sure what you mean by "unlock button".  The button is squarish and has 4 triangles pointing in 4 directions (up, down, left, right).  You only see this if you have enabled "Use tile-to-slew" in the scope setup settings and are connected to the (Demo) scope.  Tapping the button should highlight it and turn the feature on.

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    Paweł T. Jochym

    Moto G5+ has some quirks - additionally there are at least three versions I know of with different sensors setup (compass/NFC/accel).

    I'll be happy to do any debugging you wish - I have a standard handset, not rooted or changed - just updated. What can I do in addition to the logs? I am fairly technical (physicist, software developer and sysadmin), so do not hesitate to assign some more complicated tasks. I would really like to make work...

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    John E.

    Bill, the only thing I can get to appear on the right-hand bottom of the screen other than the plus and minus sign is when the scope control buttons are showing. Disconnect, push to, align, and lock. The unlock/ lock button was what I thought you were referring to. There is no- button that is squarish and has 4 triangles pointing in 4 directions (up, down, left, right) anywhere on the screen. I'm wondering if that's part of the problem???

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    Bill Tschumy

    I think you problem is that you have specified the mount type as "Push-To".  Those do not get the slew buttons (because a push-to scope can't slew).  Change the mount type to "Alt/Az GoTo" and try again.

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    John E.

    That seemed to have done the trick. Now it appears to be working. My field of view Circle moves around the sky as I tilt the phone in various directions. It looks like my Moto does work with it. Once I had it set up correctly. It seems like a handy feature for someone who wants to control their scope with it. I hope you guys could figure out how to get Paweł's working.

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    Bill Tschumy

    John, OK, thanks for testing this.  What version of Android are you on?

    Pawel, if you are reading this, what version of Android are you on?

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    John E.

    You're certainly welcome. I am using Android 7.

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    Paweł T. Jochym

    Standard manufacturer android 7.0 - polish/european version without any cell provider overlays (retail)

    Build: NPNS25.137-93-14

    SKU: XT1685

    Ver:PVTB

     

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    Paweł T. Jochym

    Any news about the issue on MotoG ?

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    Keiron Smith

    Hi Pawel, 

    Bill is at the Okie_Tex star party this week.  So, any updates regarding this issue will likely come next week.

    Thanks for your patience.

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    Jonathan Davey

    I also have tilt to slew issue. I made a separate thred, but remains unanswered. SF6 pro. The 4 standard control buttons work fine. Using Huawei 2i, with bluetooth, android 8 (Huawei also use their own skin EMUI) The accelerometers work in other apps and in skysafari for autorotate and navigating the sky. I have enabled tilt to slew and I see the 4 arrows, on tapping it highlights, but nothing happens.

     

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    Jonathan Davey
    • Additionally. I have turned on the demo mode and also no function. Using Equatorial go to (german). Tried other goto, also no function.
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    Bill Tschumy

    Jonathan,

    Sorry you are having this problem.  This might be a hard one to track down since it seems hardware dependent.

    What scope type an mount type have you specified?

    Could you send me a Android log file?  

    1. Try using tilt-to-slew.
    2. After it fails to work, go to the Help screen
    3. At the bottom there is an "Email Log File" option.
    4. Email the log to yourself and then forward it to me at bill@simcur.com (Unfortunately you can't attach text files to posts here)
    5. In the email, include a link to this thread so I will know what it is about.
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    Keiron Smith

    Update on this thread.  Bill is working on a fix that could be released next week.  Please email him your log files.

    Thanks!

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    Paweł T. Jochym

    Bill, do you need any additional info (logs, etc.) from me?

    Please note that the issue with Moto G5 does not depend on telescope hardware. It shows up with simulation as well as with my Celestron Evolution scope.

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    Bill Tschumy

    Not at this time.  I will be looking at this today.

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    Bill Tschumy

    I will say that I'm pretty sure this is only a problem with devices that *don't* have a compass.  My guess is we are using the sensors that get turned on when the app starts and they are not correct if there is not a compass present.

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    Paweł T. Jochym

    That sounds plausible to me and is exacly my case. 

    This model of G5 does not have a compas - only accelerometer.

    Comparing with my other device (nexus 7) - There is no compass icon on the bottom bar (obviously). Maybe when you switch off compass mode you switch off the sensors for compass mode (accel) as well, and in consequence switch off data for tilt-to-slew mode? 

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    Bill Tschumy

    It looks like Johnathan's device does have a compass, so this bug may unfortunately not be related to that.

    I have a log file from Jonathan.  Could others in this thread that are having the problem send me their log files?

    1. Try using tilt-to-slew.
    2. After it fails to work, go to the Help screen
    3. At the bottom there is an "Email Log File" option.
    4. Email the log to yourself and then forward it to me at bill@simcur.com (Unfortunately you can't attach text files to posts here)
    5. In the email, include a link to this thread so I will know what it is about.
  • 0
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    Bill Tschumy

    Note that you can do this using the Demo Interface in the scope setup settings.  You do not actually need to be connected to your scope.

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